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VVVVVV, last year’s absolutely stellar indie platformer, had some similarly brilliant music. Take a listen to this. Complex, organic, emotive- if that’s not perfection in a pseudo chiptune, I don’t know what is. The artist behind those tracks, Magnus Pålsson (aka Souleye), released them last year in an album called PPPPPP.

What this post is about is that Pålsson’s just released PPPPPPowerup!, an album made up of VVVVVV tracks (and some extras) arranged by eighteen different musicians (including Super Meat Boy composer Danny Baranowsky). “Arranged” is musician for “using real instruments, for instance a guitar or a bassoon or something”. PPPPPPowerup! will set you back $10 (plus shipping if you want a physical copy), and you can listen to a teaser below. All this comes courtesy of the Indiegames blog, who have a fat interview with Souleye here.

2:10 is the bit that made me clutch at my shirt like I was having a heart attack.

Oh, look what I found! The Positive Force arranged version by itself. Amazing.

PPPPPP is probably my favorite soundtrack of all times. Not sure about these. I love the piano arrangements though…but the rest are just well lacking in 8-bitness. 2:10 and 2:50 sound like they might be worth the price of admission alone though.

In any case I’ll buy it though just to support SoulEye. I listen to PPPPPP so much I really should be paying a subscription fee.

It’s one of my favourite soundtracks from recent memory too (along with the Shatter soundtrack). Nothing can elicit so many memories as hearing the music that plays at the Veni, Vidi, Vici section of the game.

Also, everyone who donated $20 or more to the Video Game Music in Context documentary (which I hope you all did) should have now been emailed download links for the two accompanying Hydorah soundtracks, one of which includes an arrangement by Pålsson himself.

I guess I meant that, for a chiptune, there’s a pleasing range of riffs and individual elements that mean the music stands up not just as background music, but something deep enough to hold your attention by itself. Hell, in chiptunes, even modulations are uncommon.

I suggest after buying the CD and giving it a listen that you send Magnus an email about how much this album puckers up your asshole with joy. His reponse to my email eventually led to him listening to my friend’s chiptune and giving some extensive feedback. I can’t stress how much of a nice person he is, so fuck it sell your house and the kids and give the money to him.